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General Discussion / Mr Palmer? DTV, home Antenna and stations antennas.
« on: November 09, 2013, 09:16:50 am »
Long time no chat Mr Palmer. I hope all is well on your end.
I seen your post on cameras and I told Duh Boss Dr Dan that my Daughter works with security cameras and is "training" in that field as a side interest source of income.
Now back to what this post is all about. I know you work around Antennas a lot.
OK, I'm cheap and broke. When that happens I make do with what I can.
So read what I've done and help explain what I can do.
And yes I could just get an antenna for the tv and be done with it.
But that isn't possible right now.
What I did was used an old CB antenna on a magnet base for a tv antenna.
We have two DTV converter boxes we got back during the change over to Digital signal.
I spliced the cable and connected a short length of RF cable. ground to ground and current wire to the antenna itself.
It worked.
I did find that the higher it was the better reception it got. Having a magnetic base I was able to mount it on top of my gazebo which was about 10 feet up. It was vertical just like a CB antenna goes.
Then I heard about "Directional" and "Non directional" receptions and the the channels each can only get.
OK... I can remember the old rabbit ear antennas :muttley:
Right now my home made antenna is in the attic where I can connect it to any RF cable going to certain rooms.
I had it standing vertical and it did fine.
Then I laid it horizontal pointed east to see it that helped.
It seem to done better even though I don't have a signal meter.
The last part is this.
Here in my city, all the TV and Radio Antenna towers are in mostly one location. They are all
in an array about 15 miles due east of my house.
We are on flat land down here and no tower building between me and the antennas either.
If I can capture, strengthening those signals then I'm good.
While the CB antenna bare metal isn't designed for what I'm using it for. It does work.
The question is. Do I mount it vertical? or horizontal to get the most of both.
And is there any modification I can add to the antenna that might help? like bat wing type wires?
I recall a subject on the Board some years back about using Pringle cans for some device to improve it's signal.
I want to try to do the same thing.
Sooooooo.. what say you guys? Anyone up to the challenge? :bigsmile:
Thanks!
Buggy 'D
I seen your post on cameras and I told Duh Boss Dr Dan that my Daughter works with security cameras and is "training" in that field as a side interest source of income.
Now back to what this post is all about. I know you work around Antennas a lot.
OK, I'm cheap and broke. When that happens I make do with what I can.
So read what I've done and help explain what I can do.
And yes I could just get an antenna for the tv and be done with it.
But that isn't possible right now.
What I did was used an old CB antenna on a magnet base for a tv antenna.
We have two DTV converter boxes we got back during the change over to Digital signal.
I spliced the cable and connected a short length of RF cable. ground to ground and current wire to the antenna itself.
It worked.
I did find that the higher it was the better reception it got. Having a magnetic base I was able to mount it on top of my gazebo which was about 10 feet up. It was vertical just like a CB antenna goes.
Then I heard about "Directional" and "Non directional" receptions and the the channels each can only get.
OK... I can remember the old rabbit ear antennas :muttley:
Right now my home made antenna is in the attic where I can connect it to any RF cable going to certain rooms.
I had it standing vertical and it did fine.
Then I laid it horizontal pointed east to see it that helped.
It seem to done better even though I don't have a signal meter.
The last part is this.
Here in my city, all the TV and Radio Antenna towers are in mostly one location. They are all
in an array about 15 miles due east of my house.
We are on flat land down here and no tower building between me and the antennas either.
If I can capture, strengthening those signals then I'm good.
While the CB antenna bare metal isn't designed for what I'm using it for. It does work.
The question is. Do I mount it vertical? or horizontal to get the most of both.
And is there any modification I can add to the antenna that might help? like bat wing type wires?
I recall a subject on the Board some years back about using Pringle cans for some device to improve it's signal.
I want to try to do the same thing.
Sooooooo.. what say you guys? Anyone up to the challenge? :bigsmile:
Thanks!
Buggy 'D